Brent Oliver is a mindfulness lead trainer and writer from Lexington, KY. He’s known for his bold, straightforward approach spiced with plenty of humor, curiosity, and skepticism. His main goals are to advocate for modern mindfulness, educate people about what it does and how, and facilitate access to this powerful practice.
His meditative journey began in 1996 with Buddhism, which probably saved his life, pathetic as it was at the time. For many years, he studied and practiced within various traditional approaches before realizing no single tradition could possibly contain him. He asked a lot of awkward questions, made tons of mistakes, and was asked to leave some very nice places. Over more than two decades, his path has evolved into cutting-edge contemplative cross training with Shinzen Young’s teachings at the core.
After seeing the massive decrease in his own suffering, Brent was determined to guide others on a secular path to personal freedom and authenticity. Becoming a lead trainer in the UM system has let him to do just that. Even more, it’s made him part of the mindfulness revolution, helping spread these universal, accessible methods that have such enormous potential to elevate human happiness.
Brent works with individual clients to custom-tailor techniques based on their specific goals and aptitudes. He also brings mindfulness to schools, businesses, or any group interested in its many benefits. One of his greatest strengths is a freakish versatility that makes him equally skilled at addressing boardrooms, living rooms, and classrooms. To learn more about him and what he offers, please visit his website at BrentOliverNow.com.
Julianna received her BA in psychology from Duke University. As founder, president, and head trainer of Unified Mindfulness, she is dedicated to disseminating Shinzen Young’s comprehensive mindfulness meditation system through the creation and presentation of educational programs and teacher-training certification programs.
Dr. Hunter serves as associate professor of practice and is the founding director of the Executive Mind Leadership Institute at the Peter F. Drucker Graduate School of Management, Claremont Graduate University. He also serves as visiting professor at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, where he developed and co-teaches the Leading Mindfully executive education program..
Dr. Eisendrath serves as chief psychologist and president of the Institute for Dialogue Therapy, P.C., where, as a Jungian analyst, she offers psychotherapy with individuals and couples, psychoanalysis, supervision, and training.
Dr. Vago serves as the research director of the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine and the director of the Contemplative Neuroscience and Integrative Medicine (CNIM) Laboratory at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He is an associate professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the Department of Psychiatry.
Stella is a psychologist, professor, and Zen practitioner. She became a formal student in 2008 in the Soto Zen tradition. She teaches courses in mindfulness based psychotherapies and the psychology of compassion at the Union Institute & University. She also co-facilitates a family program and young adult program at Shao Shan Temple, in Woodbury Vermont.
Dr. Creswell serves as a tenured associate professor in the Department of Psychology at Carnegie Mellon University. He is also the director of the Health & Human Performance Laboratory at Carnegie Mellon University.
Dr. McCormick currently serves as director of education at Unified Mindfulness. In 1975, he received a B.A. in psychology from the University of California Santa Cruz, where he was part of Dr. Elliot Aronson’s research team that examined cooperative approaches to reducing interracial conflict and academic performance problems in newly integrated school, and made Honors in Psychology, College Honors, and Thesis Honors.
UnifiedMindfulness.com is the official teacher training platform for Shinzen and the Unified Mindfulness System.
Created over 50 years of research and testing by Shinzen Young, Unified Mindfulness is a system of meditation that’s easily researchable by science, with clear terminology and rigorous precision around concepts and procedures.
The Unified Mindfulness system is a comprehensive, robust and refined support structure that any individual at any stage of meditation practice can rely on to go deeper in their insight and their ability to share it with others. It is also a secular form of meditation, which means it’s not religious in any way so anyone, of any faith, can do it.